ANASTASIA


    My heart raced from the sight of his naked form in the adjoining room, the image lingered, seared into my memory with asting effect; embarrassment...and heat.


    There was a stark difference to the man I''d seen und years ago. The current man''s every pores oozed masculinity through the hard contours and rough edges cutting sharply along his strong thighs and his back.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    I couldn''t help but picture once more the firmness of his butt and his shoulders as they spread out like the dangerous edges of a cliff, each with a swoop downwards to amodate toned biceps which flexed as he moved them, oblivious to my brief presence.


    I had tried to prepare myself for the possiblity of bumping into Aiden during the trip, been so careful to avoid him, but nothing prepared me for this very scene. Who would have thought we were only separated by a thin door?


    How did I forget about the adjoining rooms? Of course there was bound to be. However, the bone of contention was the fact that it was Aiden I had to be stuck with. Of all the people who came on the trip? Just that sinful sight of him and I knew I was fucked! Now I''d have that image living in my head, witnessing the many dusks and dawns of days ahead before it''d finally decide to take a bow.


    For double measures, I barricaded the door with a heavy object, determined not to have any more embarrassing encounters. I examined the door for the second time, pulling thetches to check


    If by mistake, fate wanted to have anything else, it wouldn''t be the door opening for the second time.


    Then a knock startled me and I was all over the ce with a choking anxiety. " was Aiden. It had to be him. Perhaps, he had seen me.


    I dragged in much needed breath. Twice. The knock came again, once more throwing me off bnce as battled internally for words to meet Aiden.


    When I reached the door, I realized it was one of my colleagues in whose hands was a paper bag. I heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Thank you." My voice came out small, a pathetic attempt at sounding like I wasn''t just hyperventting in my room. I took a peek into the bag, eyebrows lifting when I saw they were toiletries Oh my, thank you so much."


    "It''s nothing." She had a small frown on her face though and it made me curious. She chuckled, "You won''t believe I told my family, including my first and second cousins that I''d be going to Hawaii for a vacation-Only to arrive here and see this."


    "Ahh, I see." I pursed my lips to keep from bursting into an unhealthy fit ofughter,, schooled my face to mimick sympathy. I remembered her reaction on the day the memo was delivered to our emails and how she had so ecstatically sang the word "Hawail'', over and over.


    What seemed funnier was how nothing on the memo spelt Hawail.


    "I''m sorry about that." I finally spoke.


    She shrugged like she couldn''t care less. "You cane join everyone for dinner at therge room. Everybody''s gathered there right now."


    At her words, I felt myself shrinking back from the offer, the memory of skining to mind once more. Joining therge group for di meant bumping into Aiden even when I wasn''t ready to.


    As though sensing my reluctance, she quickly piped up. "It''s not a problem if you cannot join us. Some people love to have their solitude as they eat. Perhaps, you''re one of them. See you around." She made to leave but my hold on her arm stopped her.


    "Give me a few minutes to change into something better. I''ll be right behind you." I informed her with a smile. As she left, I changed into a floral dress. I nned on ignoring his presence and that was that.


    I stepped out of the room, securing the door with the key we had received from the resort''s management, and with a mantra:


    "Shit happens, so it''s not a big deal," over and over until I got to a dining hall where the low


    hum on my way there rose into cheery chattering, filled with the clinking of cutleries on tes and mindless gists as I crossed the threshold.


    The urge to revert to my room with my te in hand raged on, higher than any need to converse with anyone. Maybe the "Hawaii''dy was right about me not wanting to deal with such crowd during my meals. I could skip dinner, it didn''t...


    "Join us, Anal" Rachel yelled as she waved me over with a wide grin sitting on her face. After her words. followed several pairs of eyes as they turned to my direction.


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